带我到中环 (it should say “Take me to Central” but God knows!)

We’re going to Hong Kong! Inshallah ya Rab ya Kareem :-) Im excited about it. I have been researching it for a few weeks now. I went once but not with my husband and kids, so I was happy not to have any kind of plan. That doesn’t work so well when you have kids with you. For some reason, sitting in a coffee shop in a mall with the prospect of shopping or walking up and down the same street three times to find a place you saw when you passed by in a cab earlier is not as appealing to them as it is to you. It’s beyond me why my 1-year-old wouldn’t enjoy this, but whatever.

In my search I came across the Hong Kong Tourism Board web page. And OMG its amazing! Now, before I go on, I need to explain why this was such a big deal. When I told my husband I wanted us to go to Hong Kong he said “Great, lets find a few hotels and compare location, services and price. Then when we decide on one we can start on the itinerary. We will be there for 8 days so we need to know what we are going to be doing for every day we are there” I then pointed out that maybe one day we don’t want to be doing anything… He then replied “That is why we have to schedule. So we know when we can have free time to just do nothing”.

Now, I am a person who doesn’t plan… in any way. I do last-minute EVERYTHING! My husband is already packed Mashallah! we’re not leaving for another 2 weeks. I do like some order in my life. When I travel I have a basic idea of what I want to do and some kind of time frame. But I’m nowhere near as organized as my hubby. So when faced with the idea of planning an itinerary for this family trip I almost wanted to cancel!

Having said that, I am the one who never ever gets anything I want to do done but when my husband travels for 2 days he seems to be able to do what takes me 2 weeks to do. So, being organized does pay I guess… I just hate being the organizer!

Hong Kong was my idea, and I had to sell it to him because he was less than thrilled about it to begin with. The hotel comparison is logical and easy enough and we settled on one that I had visited when I went to Hong Kong. Then, started the research on what we can do. Enter the Hong Kong Tourism Board website.

THEY HAVE AN ITINERARY PLANNER! and a great one! The whole site is so efficient and easy to use. Love the Hong Kongers (I googled yesterday and apparently that’s what they are called. Or Hong Kongeis!). So, with that itinerary and a quick call to the hotel concierge we have planned, inshallah, for a great family vacation that includes guided cultural tours (Po Lin monastary, Giant Buddah, Tai O fishing village.) as well as commercial fun time (Disney, Ocean park, and the markets).

I am really excited about going and I am pushing for the next trip to be further east (Japan?) Fingers crossed that the kids and their daddy and most importantly their mummy have an amazing time. My only concern, the food… it wasn’t so yummy the last time I went. Has anyone been to Hong Kong? Any advice?

Neither am I to tell you the truth! I mentioned to my husband in passing how maybe it would be better if Baby B stayed with my mum or his mum in fact but that is not going to happen lol. I am taking someone with me to help though! So it shouldn’t be that bad :-) We will have to figure out how we are going to schedule both naps in! Yes, I am a little mad. Lets see if this jumps up and bites me in the bum. Maybe I should have chosen some resort place?? All booked now lol. Will give for some good blogging material though.

They say life is a great adventure or nothing…at least you’re brave enough to embark on an adventure! At the very least you’re going to have some good stories to share…I am pleased you are taking help though…airport lounges with any children can be interesting, with a one year old – hee, hee.

Hello from Mama B

Hi! I'm Bessma and this is my little blog. I started it 2010 as a place to think out loud about parenting 3 Arab Muslim children in this day and age. It has since developed into a more informed thinking out loud about parenting 5 Arab Muslim children in this day and age.